Snapshot
Problem
After a person is dropped off by an autonomous vehicle, the vehicle finds a parking place or gives a ride to other people. Either way, the person will not know where the vehicle is located and cannot simply walk back to the vehicle to get a ride. The person typically uses her phone to request a ride via an app. Once a ride is requested, the vehicle picks up the person.
Solution
The system can take action (in response to detecting phone issues) to ensure the person is able to get a ride. As a result, people are not stranded without a ride.
Intellectual Property
U.S. Patent 10,255,648
U.S. Patent 10,268,192
U.S. Patent 10,274,950
U.S. Patent Application 16/128,334
U.S. Patent Application 16/367,076
Additional patents pending
Partners
Drivent would like to integrate these helpful features into your autonomous vehicle systems.
How will the system help you if your phone is broken, lost, or has a dead battery?
Preventing phone issues from becoming transportation issues.
There are a lot of reasons why your phone might not be working. For example, phones often run out of battery power. You might accidentally drop your phone or lose your phone. Regardless of why your phone isn’t working, you don’t want a phone problem to leave you stranded.
Luckily, we have pioneered solutions that prevent phone issues from becoming transportation issues. The following list of solutions is not exhaustive, but is meant to give you an idea of what we’ve been working on for the last few years. We would love to integrate these solutions into your autonomous vehicle systems.
Intelligent solutions ensure that no passenger is left stranded or without a ride.
Low Battery Planning
- If your phone battery is low enough that it might run out before you need a ride, the system can ask you when and where you want to be picked up. This way, if your phone stops working, you will still have a ride home.
Safety Notifications
- If you are not at the pick-up location, the system can notify your emergency contact.
- If your phone stops working, the system can notify your emergency contact and/or send information regarding your location to your emergency contact.
Backup Control When Necessary
- If your phone stops working, the system can transfer control of your self-driving vehicle to a person you chose previously.
- If your phone stops working, the system can ask your emergency contact to select a pick-up time and/or pick-up location for you.
Notify Company
- If your phone stops working, the system can notify the vehicle’s management company.
Attempt to Find You
- The vehicle can attempt to pick you up. If you are not at the pick-up location, the vehicle can automatically leave and then come back later to try to pick you up.
- If your phone stops working, the vehicle can attempt to pick you up at a time determined by analyzing your past behavior.
- If your phone stops working, the vehicle can go to a predetermined pick-up location (e.g., so you can find the vehicle).
